The course pursues subject-related and methodological objectives:
 Acquisition of regional geographic knowledge about basic structures of urban development as well as urban and landscape ecology
 Practising and applying scientific presentation methods (presentations + lectures in the field + written term paper)
 Acquisition of the ability to critically discuss current planning and nature conservation approaches

Overview of Estonia and its geography:
 Historical development of the Baltic States
 eEstonia: Digital transformation since the 1990s
 Urban development in the formative historical epochs of Estonia
 Teliskivi Loomelinnak: Creative neighbourhood as an economic driver in Tallinn?
 Undisturbed raised bogs, their vegetation and ecology
 Utilisation of raised bogs for peat extraction: sense or nonsense?
 Estonian wooded meadows: grassland with record biodiversity
 Renaturation of grassland: juniper heaths and other Estonian specialities
 Urban ecology approaches in Tartu
 Geopolitical significance of Estonia and the Baltic region
 Interethnic relations in Estonia

Preparatory seminar in summer semester 2025 (Thu, 10-12 a.m. in room IA 1/131)

Excursion in the period probably 19-29 September 2025

Literature

will be announced in the seminar

Students are able to grasp, address and communicate fundamental geographical contexts and problems. Characteristic features of the Central Hesse region and the Lahn Valley can be articulated from human and physical-geographical perspectives and categorized on the basis of literature studies and original encounters in the field.

The excursion focuses on the Central Hesse region, but also takes us from the source of the Lahn to where it flows into the Rhine to excursion points in NRW and Rhineland-Palatinate. We will cover sections on foot, possibly on a rental bike and paddling on and along the Lahn. Particular emphasis is placed on the integrative perspective in terms of complex human-environment systems and urban-rural relationships.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Preparatory seminar in summer semester 2025 (Thu, 12-14 a.m. in room IA 1/131)

Excursion in the period probably 24.08.-30.08.2025

Acquisition of knowledge of current urban and regional geographic issues
as well as fundamental structures of urban and landscape development;
Transfer theoretical knowledge to the example of the city of Vienna and its surrounding region.

The basic structures and processes of urban, regional and landscape development will be shown based on the situation in the city of Vienna and its surroundings. The urban structure (e.g. the historic old town and modern city) as well as the inner functional and socio-spatial organization of the city will be dealt with. Issues of urban renewal, social housing, new urbanity and immigration will also be addressed. Furthermore, the development of Vienna's environs towards new post-suburban structures is discussed. Finally, the natural embedding of the city of Vienna in its surroundings (Danube floodplains; Vienna Woods) will be explored.

Input, presentations, discussion, excursion (31.08.-07.09.2025)

Will be announced during the seminar sessions.

Students will be able to describe, explain and evaluate selected problems of the Southeast Asian region from human and physical-geographical perspectives on the basis of literature studies and original encounters in the field.

The Southeast Asia region comprises eleven countries located to the east of India and south of China and, with the exception of East Timor, are organized in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With an area of 4.49 million km2 and 687 million inhabitants (2023), the region is larger than the European Union, but shows great disparities in socio-economic development, from the rich city state of Singapore to the poorest countries of Cambodia, Myanmar and East Timor. Despite the rise of China and India, Southeast Asia remains one of the most dynamic regions of the world economy and offers attractive locations for foreign direct investment by multinational companies. The seminar examines selected aspects of Southeast Asia, ranging from physical geography (climate, vegetation, soils) to urban development and planning, population geography and economic geography. The latter is the thematic focus of the seminar and excursion.

Southeast Asia

• Geomorphology and climate
• Soils and vegetation
• Catch-up industrialization - catch-up processes and disparities in a new world economic region
• Supranational cooperation: ASEAN's potentials and obstacles to integration
• Subnational integration through growth triangles: The example of Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore with special consideration of Batam
• Transpiration or inspiration? An international comparison of Southeast Asia's technological performance
• Southeast Asia in the competition for foreign direct investment
• Environmental problems, conflicts and policy
• Sustainability transition, climate balance and climate policy

Singapore

• Men in White: Politics and society in Singapore
• Economic development and structural change in Singapore from 1819 to the present day - is the city-state suitable as a development model?
• Global City Singapore? Global city functions and position in the international hierarchy
• Singapore's industrialization strategy using the example of the chemical and electronics industries
• Singapore's economy of the 21st century: How does the developing state promote biotechnology and the creative industries?

Malaysia

• Society and politics in Malaysia
• Spatial disparities in the economic and technological development of peninsular Malaysia
• Through the Multimedia Super Corridor to Vision 2020? Malaysia's economic and technology policy
• The return of resources? Importance, potentials and problems of the resource-based economy in Malaysia

Comparative perspective Singapore-Malaysia

• Economic importance, problems and potentials of tourism in Singapore and Malaysia
• Urban development and urban planning: Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in comparison
• Cost of progress? Environmental problems and environmental policy in Singapore and Malaysia
• Migration in Southeast Asia: Foreign workers in Singapore and Malaysia

Literature

Croissant, A., 2022: Die politischen Systeme Südostasiens: Eine Einführung. (2. Aufl.). (=Springer Texts in Political Science and International Relations). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-658-38708-2.pdf [16.11.2024].

Girndt, T.; Kraas, F.; Müller, S.; Pries, M., 2020: Diercke Spezial Südostasien: Aktuelle Ausgabe für die Sekundarstufe II. Braunschweig: Westermann.

Gupta, A., 2005: The Physical Geography of Southeast Asia. (=The Oxford Regional Environments Series, 4). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

Ing, L.Y.; Kimura, F. (Hrsg.), 2017: Production Networks in Southeast Asia. (=Routledge-ERIA Studies in Development Economics, 9). London, New York: Routledge.

Kiese, M., 2017: Singapur – Vom Umschlaghafen zur Wissensgesellschaft? In: Geographische Rundschau, 69(1), S. 47-53.

Rush, J.R., 2018: Southeast Asia: A Very Short Introduction. (=Very Short Introductions). New York: Oxford Univ. Press.

Vorlaufer, K., 2018: Südostasien. (3. Aufl.). (=WBG-Länderkunden). Darmstadt: Wiss. Buchges.

In geographic scholarship, but also in the media, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are cited as case studies for economic structural change in the post-oil age, for so-called oil urbanization and for approaches to postmodern, partly overheated urban development. Our excursion would like to take up and examine these aspects on site, but also address and discuss spatially different development approaches in the United Arab Emirates as well as aspects of intercultural understanding. The balancing act between the preservation of traditional structures and visionary planning will be highlighted and problematized.

Since 2011, the Chair of Economic Geography has regularly conducted excursions and cooperation measures with the United Arab Emirates as part of the DAAD program “University Dialogue with the Islamic World” and accordingly has extensive regional experience and contact networks in this area, which will be used and incorporated profitably for the excursion program.

• Dubai: Urban structure and development of Dubai: Creek, Bur Dubai, Dubai Museum, Faradie Quarter, Deira, Gold, Spice and Textile Souk, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach, Palm projects and landfill (Palm Jumeirah), Internet/Media City, Dubai Downtown with Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, Burj Khalifa (ascent not included in the price), metro system
• Specialist visits: Nakheel project development company, Chamber of Commerce, tourism organizations, Sheik Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding,
• Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, cultural development projects on Saadiyat Island, including Louvre-Abu Dhabi, Yas Formula 1 racetrack, Emirates Palace
• Eco-city Masdar City
• Oasis city of Al-Ain: oasis and irrigation farming, United Arab Emirates University, Al Foah date factory
• Sharjha: “Cultural Capital” of the Emirates: Islamic Museum, Blue Souk, renovation of the old town in the Heritage Area, tourism concepts, science campus
• Ras-al-Khaima: economic development in free trade zones, profiling as a tourism destination, Al-Hamra Village real estate development project, American University
• Structural change and regional development in the “small emirates”: Ajman, Um-al-Quaiwain: coral stone development, fishing industry
• Half-day desert tour in an off-road vehicle with a traditional barbecue in the desert

In addition to the geographic program of the excursion, there will also be free time for your own explorations!

Own contribution per person: € 1,950 incl. flight Düsseldorf-Dubai (Emirates), 11 nights with breakfast in Dubai (8 nights) and Al-Ain (3 nights) in ***/**** hotels, 2 x dinner, transfers & local transportation, entrance fees, excursion reader

Preliminary meeting: mid-October 2024, University Duisburg-Essen (Campus Essen), room SM 102

Preparatory seminar: 2 days February 2025, University Duisburg-Essen (Campus Essen), room SM 102

Field trip: 12 days, probably March 17-28, 2025

Lectures, the excursion itself and field trips address fundamental geographical contexts and problems and teach them directly on site. The day tours to be worked out and carried out under supervision offer the op

Further aims of the course are
to sharpen the view and question one's surroundings, to scientifically understand characteristics, processes and backgrounds of the earth's body, to work out content-related questions (partly in a team) and to prepare them in such a way (partly also digitally) that it can be summarized in a scientifically explanatory way, to summarize and present processed topics creatively, (mainly) visually and digitally.

The approximately 10-day excursion to Alaska is planned for February 2025. 

The excursion to Alaska will focus on physical geographical topics (geology, glaciology, glacial morphology, volcanism, cave research, meteorological and climatological phenomena).
The excursion will take place in south-central Alaska in the area between Anchorage and Valdez in the Chugach Mountains. Weather permitting, we will be able to travel as far north as Fairbanks in the Alaska Range and return via Denali National Park. The landscape development of Alaska as well as glaciological and glacial morphological issues form the technical focus of this first part of the excursion. 

We will start in Anchorage and Turnagain Arm to observe the tides through the movement of the ice floes while keeping an eye out for beluga whales. Then it's on to hike to the Byron Glacier. The following day we will visit the Matanuska Glacier and explore it together. An extended snowshoe hike is planned for the next day before we continue towards Worthington Glacier, which we will climb with crampons in good weather. In Valdez we can cross the frozen glacial lake of the Valdez Glacier, which is interspersed with icebergs, and then explore the glacier itself intensively. With a bit of luck, we will find bizarre glacier caves that we can explore from the inside. In a disused car tunnel, which is full of ice stalactites, ice stalagmites and ice columns, we can admire a rather surreal fairytale landscape. 

Weather permitting, we will travel from Valdez towards Fairbanks, crossing the Alaska Range and visiting another glacier on the way. In Fairbanks, the “Museum of the North” offers an interesting introduction to the history, nature, art and settlement of Alaska, while the “World Ice Art Championship” awaits a visit. On the second day in the Fairbanks area, we will be able to enjoy the hot springs of the “Cena Hot Springs”. This means a hot bath (outdoor area) in icy surroundings. We then return to Anchorage via Denali National Park. Other topics will include ice caves, earthquakes and Alaska as a habitat. 

The planned program can of course only be carried out if the weather is suitable, so changes are possible.

Overnight stays will be in basic to very basic hotels and motels in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez and Nelchina.    

Costs:
The current estimated costs of the excursion depend on the number of participants and amount to approx. 1.375 euros to 1.795 euros, depending on the number of participants, excluding flights and meals. The price includes: Rental car, gasoline, accommodation, equipment (helmet, crampons, snowshoes), various entrance fees. 
.
For further questions please contact: andreas.pflitsch@rub.de           

Immediately after the allocation of places, there will be a mandatory preliminary meeting in Zoom. Please check the e-mails you provided when you made your choice. The date will be sought and set via Doodle poll. 

The lecture topics will then be assigned in October. In December, the preparatory seminar will take place on a weekend at the RUB, where the first part of the lectures will be held.  

This will be followed by the excursion in February. 

The follow-up is planned for the summer semester 25 by arrangement, where the remaining lectures will be given.

Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich (2013)

Vulkanismus, 4. Auflage

Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt

ISBN: 978-3-534-26245-8

Winkler, Stefan

Gletscher und Ihre Landschaften – Eine illustrierte Einführung,

Primus Verlag, Darmstadt, 2009

Benn, Douglas, I. & Evans, David, J.A.

Glaciers & Glaciation, Hodder Education, 2nd ed., London, 2010

Bennet, Matthew R, & Glasser, Neil F,

Glacial Geology – Ice Sheet and Landforms,

Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd ed., Chichester, 2009

French, Hugh M.,

The Periglacial Environment

Addison Wesley Longman Limited, 2nd ed., Harlow,1996

• Teaching of basic geographical contexts in theory and practice (on site),
• Lectures in the preparatory seminar (coursework), excursion and field trips, short inputs in the field and measurements on site (coursework),
• Training and sharpening the geographical view, describing and explaining
• Developing an understanding of processes, linking geographical disciplines for an overall view

The Canary archipelago to the west of Morocco consists of seven islands with a total area of around 7500 km². While the climate is generally stable and dominated by the Azores High and the trade wind belt, there are a variety of microclimates ranging from hot desert climates to subtropical humid climates, and snow frequently falls on Pico del Teide, the highest mountain in Spain. At 7500 m above sea level, Mount Teide is also the third largest island volcano in the world. Geologically, the Canary Islands belong to Africa and were formed by interplate volcanism over a hotspot. The eastern islands are up to 22 million years old and relatively flat, while the western islands are significantly younger and largely still volcanically active. These diverse conditions result in a very high level of biodiversity and an estimated 500 endemic species.

We will visit La Palma and Tenerife and cross over by ferry.

Focus on physical-geographical topics, such as geology, especially volcanism, meteorology and climatology (trade winds and their effects), geomorphology, soil science and biogeography: flora and fauna, but also urban and economic geography, measurements in the field, urban climate measurement.

Mandatory preliminary discussion in presence 15.11.2024 10:00-12:00 h, IA 1/123
Preparation will take place on two block days in January 2025, exact dates will follow
Excursion 08.02.-21.02.2025 (La Palma 08.02.-14.02.2025, Tenerife 14.02.-21.02.2025)

Calvet, C., 2007. Geschichten und Mythen der Kanaren. Spuren einer längst untergegangenen Kultur., 1. Auflage. ed. Boheimer Verlag, Leipzig.

Cas, R.A.F., Wolff, J.A., Edgar, C.J., Pittari, A., Middleton, J., Olin, P.H., Marti, J., 2022. International Field Course on Physical Volcanology. 14-21 March 2022. Tenerife, Canary Islands. Introduction to Tenerife Volcanism.

Goetz, R., 2017. Flora der Kanarischen Inseln. Über 200 Pflanzenarten auf den >>Inseln des ewigen Frühlings<< mit Nationalparks und Botanischen Gärten., 1. Auflage. ed, Rother Naturführer.

International Course on Physical Volcanology. 14-21 March 2022 Tenerife, Canary Islands., 2022. . GEO3BCN (Geosciences Barcelona-CSIC, Barcelona.

Mehlhorn, H., 2022a. Quick Flora La Palma. Das kleine Pflanzenbestimmungsbuch für Ihre Reise. tredition GmbH, Hamburg.

Mehlhorn, H., 2022b. Quick Flora Teneriffa. Das kleine Pflanzenbestimmungsbuch für Ihre reise.

Pott, R., Hüppe, J., Wildpret de la Torre, W., 2023. Die Kanarischen Inseln. Natur- und Kulturlandschaften. Ulmer, Stuttgart.

Rothe, P., 2008. Kanarische Inseln. Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Gomera, La Palma, Hierro., 3. Auflage. ed, Sammlung Geologischer Führer. Gebr. Borntraeger (Berlin - Stuttgart), Stuttgart.

Schmincke, H.-U., 2013. Vulkanismus., 4. Auflage. ed. WBG (Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft), Darmstadt.

Schönfelder, P., Schönfelder, I., 2018. Die Kosmos Kanarenflora., Kosmos Naturführer. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG.

Further literature will be announced later.

Through lectures, the excursion itself and field talks on the excursion, basic geographical contexts and problems are addressed and communicated directly on site. The day's work, which is carried out under supervision, offers the opportunity to test one's own actions in a leadership position and to reflect on them through comprehensive feedback. The competences acquired in this way can be used professionally, e.g. in the field of science, project planning but also in teaching activities in schools.

Further aims of the course are

•     to sharpen one's view and to question one's surroundings,
•     to scientifically understand characteristics, processes and backgrounds of the earth's body,
•     To work out content-related questions (partly in teams) and to prepare them (partly also digitally) in such a way that they can be summarised in a scientifically explanatory way, to summarise and present processed topics creatively, (mainly) visually and digitally.

The excursion will focus on physical geographical topics. Geology, volcanism, speleology as well as meteorological and climatological phenomena of tropical islands will be the main topics, but also the fauna and flora as well as the history of the colonization of Hawaii offer interesting points of investigation for geographers.

During the excursion, the following points on the main island of Big Island will be visited and the following topics will be covered:
A comparative study of the five volcanoes located on the island, with the main interest being Mauna Kea, the highest volcano on the island at 4205 meters above sea level, and the two active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea. A drive up to the highest peak in the North Pacific is planned, as well as a hike to the caldera rim of Mauna Loa.

During our visit to the Volcanoes National Park, we will hopefully be able to see active volcanic activity, although this is unpredictable and depends on Kilauea's current level of activity. At present, a deep collapse crater (caldera) can be seen here, which is filling up again with lava. This lava lake (if active) lights up the night sky with a magnificent red glow. We will also drive along the road through the park to the Pacific Ocean, which ends at a cooled lava flow that crossed the road a few years ago. Numerous inactive volcanic craters, various lava flows and the steep edge of slipped island surfaces will be the subject of the drive. At the transition to the Pacific Ocean, we visit the impressive cliffs, which are often battered by meter-high waves that have created numerous surf caves and a “sea arch”. The deep black lava in this area, which is only a few years old, can be explored on your own. Further in-depth hikes are also planned in the park.

If there are accessible active lava flows, we will also visit them. This is currently not possible, but the situation can change at any time. The possibility of visiting active lava from a helicopter is given, but the additional costs (approx. 250 euros) for this are NOT included in the excursion price.

The volcanic activity has created many different beaches, ranging from gray to black and white to deep black and green, due to its constantly active lava flows into the sea. We will visit all of these and take a closer look at their components. With a bit of luck, we may even spot resting sea turtles on the “Black Sand Beach”. There will be plenty of opportunities to go swimming and, with a bit of luck, to swim with turtles or watch dolphins.

The flowing lava has created numerous lava caves, the inspection and exploration of which will form another main part of the excursion. In addition to a simple tour of several easy-to-walk-in lava caves, crawling tours can also be carried out in another cave system if you are more interested. Helmets, knee and arm protectors are provided, a headlamp must be brought along.

In addition to the main topics mentioned above, we will also focus on climatological issues and the fauna and flora of the Big Island. The numerous climatic and vegetation zones in deeply incised valleys, on high plateaus covered in mist and lava areas above the clouds will be revealed during trips across the island as well as longer hikes. Tropical rainforest and lava desert are often less than an hour's drive and/or meters in altitude apart. We will record and analyze the range of climatic variation through our own measurements and observations.

In addition to other physical geographical topics, such as tsunamis, coastal comparisons and the spread of invasive plants, we will also look at the settlement of the island and the remaining traces of the indigenous people. The program also includes a visit to a coffee farm and a small organic farm, followed by a tasting of chocolate, coffee and honey.

Accommodation will be in a hostel in Hilo on 2 days (assuming a relaxed Corona situation), but we will mainly be accommodated in yurts in the area of a small research station for cave exploration, these will be provided, a light summer sleeping bag and sleeping mats are to be brought along.

Costs:

The cost of the excursion will be approximately € 1.950 (excluding flights).

The price includes: Meals (half board plus for 13 days), rental car, gasoline, accommodation, equipment (helmet, knee and elbow pads), various entrance fees.

Not included are: additional equipment such as sleeping bag and sleeping mat, activities planned by students and your personal follow-up program in Hawaii or on the mainland as well as daily meals on the two days with overnight stay in Hilo.

Flight bookings are made individually by the participating students. However, I will give you the name of a travel agency that knows the general conditions very well, which you can then contact.

For further questions please contact: andreas.pflitsch@rub.de

Non-binding information event: Tuesday, 11.06.2024, via Zoom (for link please see “Current /Important additional information”)

Preparation 3 blocks in presence on 10, 11 and 17.01.2025 

Excursion: probably 18.02. - 05.03.2025

Follow-up: summer semester 2025

There will be a mandatory preliminary meeting immediately after the allocation of places. Please check the emails you provided when making your choice.

The lecture topics will be assigned in October. In January, the preparatory seminar will take place on a weekend at the RUB, where the first part of the lectures will be held. 

This will be followed by the excursion in February/March 2025.

The follow-up is planned for the summer semester by arrangement, where the remaining lectures will be given.

Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich (2013)

Vulkanismus, 4. Auflage

Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt

ISBN: 978-3-534-26245-8

Hazlet, Richard W.; Hyndman, Donald W.;

Roadside Geology of Hawaii, Eighth Mountain Press

ISBN-13: 978-0878423446

Jerram, Dougal & Petford, Nick (2011):

The Field Description of Igneous Rocks, 2nd edition, Geological Field Guide.  Wiley-Blackwell Publication

ISBN: 978-0-470-02236-8

Ziegler, Alan C. (2002):

Hawaiian Natural History, Ecology, and Evolution.

University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu

ISBN: 978-0-8248-2190-6